Medical Design Briefs - August 2024 - 15

cations for the Future of a Circular Packaging System, " a report
published by PMMI and AMERIPEN.1 To achieve these
policy changes, industry and government will need to work
together to establish:
* EPR programs which shift financial and operational responsibility
for end-of-life management of products to producers
instead of taxpayers and the government.
* Universal access to recycling and composting services for all
households.
* Standardized definitions ensuring stakeholders communicate
a consistent message, minimizing consumer confusion.
* Alternatives to material bans so the option with the least environmental
impact can be chosen for each application.
* Federal investment into programs to develop more efficient
packaging design and waste management.
* Data collection to measure and benchmark the performance
of a circular packaging economy.
Circularity will likely become a more urgent objective if
the European Commission's proposed amendment to its
Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive is approved. This
regulatory change would make the directive a regulation,
set stricter sustainability standards, and push the industry
toward greater use of recycled materials. In addition, countries
around the world are passing laws regulating single-use
plastics. These laws range from outright bans to phase-outs
and recycling strategies. Although targeted primarily at retailers
carrying bags and food service supplies (e.g., cups,
containers, and straws), the momentum against single-use
plastics could broaden and accelerate.
Consequently, pharmaceutical manufacturers actively seek
alternative plastics, particularly single-use plastics. However,
shifting away from single-use plastics is challenging for the life
sciences industry, where product sterility is often required.
Nevertheless, interest is growing in replacing plastic with renewable
paper, paperboard, and PET containers made from
plant-based sources rather than petrochemicals.
Discover the latest sustainability solutions
for packaging and processing challenges
at PACK EXPO International 2024 (November
3-6, McCormick Place, Chicago).
As a central feature of the show, attendees
can explore innovations in sustainability and
other key technologies during many on-floor
educational opportunities, such as Sustainability
Central. Making its debut this year,
Sustainability Central provides an educational
stage that will take an expansive look
into packaging sustainability and what that
means for brands. Attendees can also visit
the Healthcare Packaging Pavilion, which
houses innovations in biologicals, medical
devices, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
For more information and to register,
go to packexpointernational.com.
Development efforts also prioritize reusables, especially for
secondary and distribution packaging, and increasingly for
primary packaging, such as inhalers. However, significant obstacles
persist notably the expense of implementing reverse
logistics systems. These systems offer convenient, safe, and
hygienic collection points and address the pressing need for
more interactive and validated safety packaging that ensures
robust traceability and enhances authentication.
Furthermore, equipping production lines to clean and reuse
packaging presents another challenge. As highlighted in the
PMMI/AMERIPEN report, realizing reusables as a viable option
requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders.
Although cost is an obstacle to becoming a more sustainable
operation, digitalization could advance the process.
" As more processes become automated, it's easier to make
green optimizations.... when you use Data Science to monitor
and log everything happening in systems, you finally
have an idea of what the waste is, how much there is, and
where it's happening, " notes Fausto Artico, global R&D tech
head and product director of Innovation and Data Science
at GSK, in " The Future of Pharma Production, Manufacturing
and Packaging Trend Report, " published in 2023 by
Connect in Pharma.2
The pharmaceutical industry's pivot toward sustainability reflects
a broader movement in global business practices where
environmental responsibility is not just a choice but a business
imperative. By prioritizing sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly
packaging, energy efficiency, and waste reduction, early adopters
set precedents for others to achieve a greener future.
References
1. " Packaging Compass: Evaluating Trends in U.S. Packaging Design Over
the Next Decade and Implications for the Future of a Circular Packaging
System, " 2023: PMMI and AMERIPEN, https://www.pmmi.org/
report/2023-packaging-compass.
2. " The Future of Pharma Production, Manufacturing and Packaging Trend Report, "
Connect in Pharma, 14 April 2023: Drug Discovery Today.
*Note: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines Scope 1
emissions as direct GHG emissions from sources controlled or owned
by an organization (e.g., emissions associated with fuel combustion
in boilers, furnaces, and vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect
GHG emissions associated with purchasing electricity, steam, heat, or
cooling. Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not
owned or controlled by the reporting organization but that the organization
indirectly affects in its value chain. Scope 3 emissions include
all sources not within an organization's Scope 1 and 2 boundaries.
The Scope 3 emissions for one organization are the Scope 1 and 2
emissions of another organization. Scope 3 emissions, also called value
chain emissions, often represent most of an organization's total
GHG emissions.
This article was written by Rebecca Marquez, Director of
Custom Research at PMMI, the Association for Packaging
and Processing Technologies. For more information, e-mail
info@pmmi.org or visit www.pmmi.org.
Read the 2023 Packaging
Compass Report
Medical Design Briefs, August 2024
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
15
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Medical Design Briefs - August 2024

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